Latch for trouser creaser or the like



Aug. 26, 1958 J. w. WADE 2,849,247

LATCH FOR TROUSER CREASER OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [Z l I2 FIG-Kl FIG. 4

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John Zlfacle Aug. 26, 1958 J w WADE 2,849,247

LATCH FOR TROUSER CREASER OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-.2

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United States Patent Office 2,849,247 LATCH FOR TROUSER CREASER OR TI-IE LIKE John W. Wade, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,287 7 Claims- (Cl. ,287-.-58)

My invention relates to trouser creasers of the type Consisting of a pair of generally U-shapedframe members which are slideably secured together, as illustrated for example in Eberhardt Patent 2,456,054 dated December 14, 1948, and Henderson Patent 2,461,380 dated February 8, 1949. Said frames are inserted within the legs of the trousers and may be adjusted relative to each other so as to apply tension to the fabric of the trousers and thus hold them in shape. If the trouser legs are moistened at .the edges and allowed to dry .on the frames, they Will take a crease.

My invention has to do more particularly with an improved latch member whereby the frames are adjustably secured together. I have devised simple, inexpensive and efficient latch means for accomplishing this purpose, and this application may be considered in part a continuation of my pending application Serial No. 415,003 filed March 9, 1954, now abandoned, the constructions shown in the present application being substantially identical in principle with those disclosed in said pending application but refined for commercial production.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of a complete trouser creaser equipped with latches embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one end of the creaser shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and showing in detail the construction of the improved latch;

Fig. 3 is a side edge elevational view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, on a further enlarged scale and illustrating another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a side edge elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, inclusive, which substantially corresponds in principle to the embodiment of Fig. 7 of my aforementioned pending application Serial No. 415,003, the trouser creaser comprises a pair of generally U-shaped frame members 10, 10 the ends of the legs of said frame members overlying each other in juxtaposed relation, as seen clearly in Fig. 2, so as to be relatively slideable against each other. The terminal portion of the legs of one of the frame members 10' are curled to form an eyelet 12 through which extends a loop 15 of wire or the like, said loop extending around the other frame member 10 to assist in retaining the two frames in juxtaposed relation.

The ends of the legs of the frame member 10 are also looped to "form eyelets 12 securing a latch member indicated generally by the numeral 18. This latch member may be formed out of sheet metal, such as strip steel or the like, bent in angular formation to provide leaves and 21. The leaf 20 is provided with a perforation 23 2,849,247 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 which is of such a size and shape as to receive the legs of the frames 10 and 10' in juxtaposed parallel relation. The arm 21 has secured to the inner face thereof, as by welding at 25, a generally U-shaped or V-shaped spring 27 the free end of which is bent as at 30 to form an arcuate bearing portion which reacts against a face of the frame 10, the latter being provided with spaced indentations or serrations 32.

It will be seen that the angular latch member 18 is normally urged by the spring 27 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the upper edge of the aperture 23 bears wedgingly against a face of the frame member 10', engaging in one of the serrations 32 thereof, as seen clearly in Fig. 3, thus providing a clamping lock effectively preventing relative sliding movement between the frame members.

When it is desired slideably to adjust the frame members 10 and 10' relatively to each other, it is necessary only to rock in a counterclockwise direction the latch member 18 by finger pressure on the leaf 21 thereof, reacting against the pressure of spring 27. The leaf 20 of the latch is thus moved out of wedging engagement with the frame 10 and the frames are thus free for relative sliding movement.

Turning now to the embodiment of Figs. 5-7, inclusive, the frame members 10 and 10 may be substantially the same as in the other embodiment. retaining element may be used, comprising a U-shaped clamp 35 stamped out of sheet metal or the like having bosses 37 stamped in the leg portions thereof and ex-- of the eyelet 40 formed in the ends of the frame members 10 and 10'.

Secured'to the outer face of frame member 10 at a point 43 adjacent the ends of said frame member, as by welding, riveting or the like is a resilient clamp indicated generally by the numeral 45. This clamp, which may be formed of tempered sheet metal or other suitable resilient material, comprises a leaf 47 which extends generally parallel to the face of frame member 10 but is bent therefrom, as seen clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, and a leaf 50 formed substantially at right angles to leaf 47 so as to extend across the edges of frame members 10 and 10'. The other end of leaf 50 is bent substantially at right angles to it to provide an car 52 overlying the outer face of frame member 10 which is serrated as at 32, the ear 52 having its terminal portion bent toward said serrated face or frame 10' to provide a detent 55.

It will be readily apparent that the resilience of the latch member 45'Will normally cause the detent 55 to engage the serrated face of frame member 10', as seen clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, thus effectively preventing inadvertent displacement of the frame members after they have become adjusted. To change the relative position of said frames it is merely necessary to displace the clamps 45 by finger pressure at or near the free end of leaf 47 so as to remove the detent 55 from engagement with the face of frame 10', whereupon the frames may be slid relative to each other until the desired adjustment has been obtained.

It will be seen that in the embodiments shown and described above I have provided an extremely simple and effective spring biased latch which may be produced and assembled cheaply by mass production methods and operated by simple finger pressure. In both of the embodiments there is a detent which is normally spring urged into clamping engagement with the face of one of the frames, which detent may readily be rocked out of such clamping engagement'by relatively slight finger pressure against the spring action.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the A somewhat different 3 art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pair of elongated elements arranged in contiguous sliding relation to each other, latch means for retaining said members in longitudinally adjusted position relative to each other, said latch means comprising a pair of leaves fixedly arranged angularly to each other, one of said leaves being generally parallel to the major plane of said elements and the other being generally normal to said plane, said latch means being rockably secured to one of said elements, one of said leaves having a detent engageable with a face of one of said elements and said latch means being self-spring biased, whereby said detent is normally resiliently urged into clamping engagement with said face.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping means is formed of resilient material and comprises a leaf secured to one of said elements and extending angularly away from a face of said element, and a second leaf bent approximately perpendicularly to said first leaf and extending across the edges of both of said elements, said second leaf having on the free end thereof a detent normally engageable with a face of said second element by the spring action of said clamping means, and being released from such engagement by pressure on the first leaf.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said second leaf has a portion bent therefrom and extending across the exposed face of the other of said elements, said last mentioned portion having a detent normally engaging said exposed face.

4 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said leaves is rockably secured to one of said elements, said leaf being apertured to permit the free passage of the other of said elements therethrough, a face of said aperture serving as a detent engageable with the exposed face of the other of said elements, the second leaf bent angularly to said first leaf, and resilient means unitary with said second leaf normally urging said detent into clamping engagement with said second element, said clamping means being releasable from clamping position by rocking the same against said resilient member.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said resilient member comprises a reversely bent leaf spring. 6. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the first leaf of said clamping means is apertured to receive both of said elements, the first of said elements being bent to form a trunion rockably retaining the first leaf, and said resilient means consists of a reversely bent leaf spring. 7. A combination as in claim 1, wherein one of said leaves is secured to one of the slidable elements and the other leaf is accessibly disposed adjacent the outside of the other of such elements so as to serve as a latch manipulating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 416,185 

